Today's Edition
ISIDORA CIRIC (DUBAI)
“Don't count on nature to solve the climate crisis. But take care of nature, and it will help solve it," Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre remarked at the COP28 Leaders’Event, setting the tone for his message on environmental stewardship.
Highlighting international cooperation, Støre praised the Pacific Oceans Initiative by Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni of Tonga and the leadership of Palau's President Surangel Whipps Jr. in co-chairing the Ocean Panel.
This panel, representing 45 per cent of the world's economic zones, has committed to manage all ocean areas by 2025, a mere two years away. Støre called this a stride towards 100 per cent sustainable ocean management and to endorse the Ocean Action Declaration launched by the Ocean Panel on Saturday.
Norway's dedication to climate action was further underscored as Støre announced the nation's participation in the Mangrove Alliance for Climate, an initiative that was launched by the UAE, in partnership with Indonesia.
The initiative aims to promote mangroves as a nature-based solution to climate change. It has attracted 20 partners to scale up and accelerate the conservation and restoration of mangrove ecosystems for the benefit of communities worldwide.
He then shifted focus to forests, recalling the initiation of Norway's International Climate and Forest Initiative 15 years ago.
Støre proudly noted: "This is the most important international contribution for the climate, and for nature, that my country has ever done."
Since the initiative’s inception, Norway has disbursed $5 billion to preserve tropical forests, he said, a strategy that has shown promising results.
The Prime Minister highlighted Brazil's significant reduction in deforestation – down 80per cent in President Lula's first administration and halved in the first 10 months of his new term.
Støre also applauded Indonesia for achieving the lowest deforestation rates in 20 years, a 90 per cent decrease under President Joko Widodo’s leadership, and announced a new $100 million contribution to Indonesia to support its sustainable actions.
Similar progress was noted in Colombia, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Republic of Congo, each demonstrating significant strides in forest conservation.
In closing, Støre stressed the need for increased finance and technology collaboration, announcing Norway's plans to launch a new satellite programme for monitoring tropical forests.
He concluded: "There is no path to 1.5 degrees unless we... reverse forest loss this decade," reaffirming Norway's commitment to environmental leadership in the face of global climate challenges.
